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Jan 31 SECRET TEA RITUAL OF HONG KONG'S TRIAD

I’ve been a fan of Asian cinema since I was a kid. From Bruce Lee to Zatoichi, I devoured them all as a part of my well-balanced movie diet. John Woo, the Hong Kong director-maven of gangster movies is a favourite of mine. In a lot of these gangster movies, it’s quite common to encounter a scene best described as a “harmony banquet”.

The premise for these scenes usually being two rival gangs meeting for negotiation of truce. Before the start of any talking, there is always a deliberate, ritualistic arranged display of teacups and teapot to determine friend or foe.

This is the secret tea ritual of the Triad, or Hong Kong’s own mafia.

I have to admit that this is a mere glossary of a ritual layered with symbolism and cultural subtext that’s beyond my grasp, with zero command of Mandarin. It would require extensive reading of Chinese classics, some of which have not even been translated to English, as far as I’m aware.

My interest arises more out of a puerile obsession of suave gangsters and notions of undying brotherhood. However, this is no less charming than a Japanese green tea ceremony. I’d like to imagine that if the Japanese green tea ceremony is a deliberation on peace, the Triad’s secret tea language is a call to arms.

The rise of the Triad

Like a lot of things that started with good intentions but ended with a perversion of the original goals, the forebearer of the Triad was the Heaven and Earth Society. It was established in 1760 by the patriots of the deposed Ming Dynasty to overthrow the Manchus of the Ching rulers.

AS THESE REBELS SET UP RENDEZVOUS POINTS AT TEA HOUSES, THE SECRET TEA LANGUAGE WAS A MEANS TO COMMUNICATE WITH COMRADES, NOT UNLIKE A MORSE CODE.

When the communists took over in 1949 and clamped down hard on all dissent and undesirables, the bulk of these rebels escaped to Hong Kong, then a British colony. Gradually the noble cause to restore the Ming Dynasty was forgotten and the society evolved into a money making entity to support and enrich its members, unconstrained by the veneer of social responsibilities. The secret tea language was absorbed into the pomp and circumstance of the Triad.

The 3 stages of secret tea language

Esoteric like a Shaolin kungfu manuscript and rarely known in the West, the ritual has four main purposes. Verifying identity, seeking help, visiting friendlies and grandstanding. There are three stages to the rite:

The first stage is the set up. The tea cups and tea pot are arranged in a specific manner. Each set of arrangement symbolises a purpose like verifying friend and others.

The second stage is ‘breaking’ or decoding the set up. Once a particular tea arrangement is set, the responder moves the cups and pot into a specific position in reply.

The third stage is for the responder to voice a few specific verses. Imagine it as a double verification system. The first is moving the crockery, the second is verbal counter.

Tea arrangement – ‘Single-handed’ set

For example: a tea arrangement set called ’Single-handed’. This set is named after a legend during the Three Kingdoms when General Zhao Yun single-handedly rescued the only son and wife of Emperor Liu Bei from enemy soldiers.

To decode the arrangement in the second stage: if you could render help, drink the cup of tea. If you can’t, pour the tea from the cup into pot. Pour tea from the pot into cup again, then drink from the cup.

The verses that are voiced in the third stage:I roam the world alone, arrived bearing the weight of dust from the ages. A transformed golden dragon bear great fortune, the King ascends the protected throne.

Tea arrangement – ‘Loyalty’ set

To decode: drink from the middle cup to show your loyalty.

Tea arrangement – ‘Challenge’ set

To decode: drink from any one cup if you decline the challenge. Drink all three cups if you accept.

Tea arrangement – ‘Loyal subject’ set

To decode: starting from the left, drink the first cup if you agree to take care of a comrade’s wife when your comrade is not around. Drink second cup if you agree to loan money. Drink third cup if you agree to render help and the last cup if you promise to not create trouble for someone.

Tea arrangement – ‘General Zhao Joins the Alliance’ set

To decode: move the lower cup to align horizontally with the three cups to signify you are joining the alliance.

Tea arrangement – ‘Aiding the Poor’ set

To decode: if you can render aid, take away the pot and drink from any cup.

Christos Gkosdis is an engineer by profession and a foodie at heart. A connoiseur of chilies, he can take as much heat as the best of asians. In his free time, he likes to relax with a book, especially books on World War 2 and Greek history.

Christos Gkosdis is an engineer by profession and a foodie at heart. A connoiseur of chilies, he can take as much heat as the best of asians. In his free time, he likes to relax with a book, especially books on World War 2 and Greek history.